One piece convertible closure and a one piece convertible closure and container system

Abstract

A pharmaceutical storing and dispensing device having a closure and container. The container includes a container axis and a neck having a container stop device, a container opening edge defining a container opening, and a container engaging device positioned to engage the closure. The closure is a one piece convertible child resistant closure comprising an outer section, an inner section, and at least one armature integrally formed between the inner section and the outer section and attaching the inner section to the outer section. The inner section is axially moveable relative to the outer section between a child resistant position and a non child resistant position to convert the closure from a child resistant mode to a non child resistant mode.

1. A one piece convertible closure for use with a container having at least one container stop device, at least one container closing device, a container opening edge defining a container opening, and a container axis; the one piece convertible closure comprising:
 a closure axis about which the closure is rotatable; 
 an outer section including an outer circumferential side wall including a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and at least one closure stop device positioned on the inner surface; 
 an inner section including a top and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the top, the inner circumferential side wall including a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second inner surface having at least one closure closing device for engagement with the container closing device; 
 at least one armature integrally formed between the inner section and the outer section and attaching the inner section to the outer section; and 
 the inner section being coaxially positioned within the outer section and axially movable relative to the outer section between a child resistant position and a non-child resistant position to convert the closure from a child resistant mode to a non-child resistant mode, the armature being dimensioned to releaseably maintain the inner and outer sections in the child resistant position and to releaseably maintain the inner and outer sections in the non-child resistant position, the armature and outer section being bendable to allow and inhibit the relative axial movement of the sections to and from the child resistant position and the non-child resistant position in response to axial forces applied between the sections. 
 
     
     
       2. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the inner section and the outer section are separated by a radial distance and the armature has an armature length, wherein the radial distance is less than the armature length. 
     
     
       3. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the armature is positioned to radially space the inner section from the outer section to and define a gap between the inner section and the outer section. 
     
     
       4. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the armature is positioned to releasably inhibit axial movement of the inner section relative to the outer section between the child resistant mode and the non-child resistant mode. 
     
     
       5. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the armature is flexibly attached to the inner section and the outer section. 
     
     
       6. The closure of  claim 1 , the first outer surface of the outer section further including a plurality of serrations positioned substantially parallel with the closure axis. 
     
     
       7. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer circumferential side wall defines an outer opening having an outer opening edge and the entire top of the inner section is exposed and visible through the outer opening. 
     
     
       8. The closure of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the top of the inner section is positioned substantially planer with the outer opening edge when the closure is in the child resistant mode; and 
 the top of the inner section is spaced from the outer opening edge when the closure is in the non-child resistant mode. 
 
     
     
       9. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the inner section further includes a seal side shaped to engage the container opening edge and forms a seal with the container opening edge when the closure is secured to the container. 
     
     
       10. The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement between the seal side of the top and the container opening edge limits the axial and rotational movement of the closure relative to the container in a direction of attachment of the closure to the container. 
     
     
       11. The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure stop device is positioned to engage the container stop device when the closure is in the child resistant mode to limit rotational movement of the closure relative to the container in a direction of removal of the closure from the container. 
     
     
       12. The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the closure stop device is positioned to pass by the container stop device when the closure is in the non-child resistant mode to allow rotational movement of the closure relative to the container in a direction of removal of the closure from the container. 
     
     
       13. The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the armature includes at least one aperture corresponding to each closure stop device. 
     
     
       14. A convertible cap for use with a container having a container stop device, container closing device, a container opening edge defining a container opening, and a container axis, the one piece convertible cap comprising:
 a cap axis about which the cap can rotate; 
 an outer section having an outer circumferential side wall including a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and at least one cap stop device, the outer circumferential side wall defining a top outer opening edge and a bottom outer opening edge, the at least one cap stop device positioned on the inner surface; 
 an inner section including an inner section top, an inner section bottom, and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the inner section top, the inner section top including a container side shaped to engage the container opening edge when the cap is secured to the container, the inner circumferential side wall including a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second inner surface having a cap closing device for engagement with the container closing device; 
 at least one connector attaching the inner and outer sections; 
 the outer section being coaxially positioned around the inner section and axially movable relative to the inner section between a first child resistant position and a first non-child resistant position to convert the cap from a child resistant mode to a non-child resistant mode, wherein the at least one connector, inner section and outer section are dimensioned and positioned to releasably maintain the inner and outer sections in the non-child resistant position and to releaseably maintain the inner and outer sections in the child resistant position; and 
 the at least one cap stop device positioned to pass above the container stop device when the cap is engaging the container and in the non-child resistant mode to allow rotational movement of the cap relative to the container in a direction of removal of the cap from the container. 
 
     
     
       15. The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the container side forms a seal with the container opening edge when the cap is secured to the container in both the child resistant and non-child resistant modes. 
     
     
       16. The cap of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the cap stop device is positioned proximate the bottom outer opening edge to engage the container stop device when the cap is in the child resistant mode to limit rotational movement of the cap relative to the container in a direction of removal of the cap from the container; and 
 the engagement between the container side of the inner section top and the container opening edge limits the rotational movement of the cap relative to the container in a direction of attachment of the cap to the container. 
 
     
     
       17. The cap of  claim 14 , the at least one connector including a plurality of connectors positioned to radially space the inner section from the outer section, define a gap between the inner section and the outer section, and separate the inner section and the outer section by a radial distance, each connector including a connector length wherein the radial distance is less than the connector length. 
     
     
       18. The cap of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of connectors are flexibly attached to the inner section and the outer section and are positioned to releasably inhibit axial movement of the inner section relative to the outer section between the child resistant and non-child resistant modes. 
     
     
       19. The cap of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the inner section top is positioned substantially planer with the top outer opening edge when the cap is in the child resistant mode; and 
 the inner section bottom is positioned substantially planer with the bottom outer opening edge when the cap is in the non-child resistant mode. 
 
     
     
       20. The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one connector includes at least one aperture circumferentially aligned with each cap stop device. 
     
     
       21. A convertible closure and container pharmaceutical system, the system comprising:
 a container including a container axis and a neck, the neck having a container stop device, container engaging device, and a container opening edge defining a container opening; and 
 a one piece convertible closure having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a child resistant configuration and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a non-child resistant configuration, the one piece convertible closure including: 
 a closure axis about which the closure is rotatable; 
 an outer section having an outer circumferential side wall including a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a closure stop device, the outer circumferential side wall defining a top outer opening edge and a bottom outer opening edge, the closure stop device positioned on the inner surface and engaging the container stop device when the one piece convertible closure is in the child resistant mode to limit rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of removal of the one piece convertible closure from the container; 
 an inner section including an inner section top, an inner section bottom, and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the inner section top, the inner section top including a container side positioned to engage the container opening edge and limit the axial and rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of attachment of the one piece convertible closure to the container when the one piece convertible closure is secured to the container, the inner circumferential side wall including a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second inner surface having a closure engaging device for engagement with the container engaging device; 
 a plurality of armatures integrally formed with the inner and outer sections and flexibly attached to the inner and outer sections, the armatures attaching the inner section to the outer section; and 
 the inner section being coaxially positioned within the outer section and axially movable relative to the outer section between a child resistant configuration and a non-child resistant configuration to convert the one piece convertible closure from a child resistant mode to a non-child resistant mode, 
 the plurality of armatures, inner section and outer section being dimensioned and positioned to releaseably maintain the inner and outer sections in the non-child resistant position and to releaseably maintain the inner and outer sections in the child resistant position. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the plurality of armatures are positioned to radially space the inner section from the outer section to, define a gap between the inner section and the outer section, and separate the inner section and the outer section by a radial distance; 
 each armature includes an armature length; and 
 the radial distance is less than the armature length. 
 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the inner section top is positioned substantially planer with the top outer opening edge when the one piece convertible closure is in the child resistant mode; and 
 the inner section bottom is positioned substantially planer with the bottom outer opening edge when the one piece convertible closure is in the non-child resistant mode. 
 
     
     
       24. A convertible closure and container pharmaceutical system, the system comprising:
 a container including a container axis and a neck, the neck having a container stop device, container engaging device, and a container opening edge defining a container opening; and 
 a one piece convertible closure having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a child resistant configuration and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a non-child resistant configuration, the one piece convertible closure including: 
 a closure axis about which the closure is rotatable; 
 an outer section having an outer circumferential side wall including a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a closure stop device, the outer circumferential side wall defining a top outer opening edge and a bottom outer opening edge, the closure stop device positioned on the inner surface and engaging the container stop device when the one piece convertible closure is 
 
       in the child resistant mode to limit rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of removal of the one piece convertible closure from the container;
 an inner section including an inner section top, an inner section bottom, and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the inner section top, 
 the inner section top including a container side positioned to engage the container opening edge and limit the axial and rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of attachment of the one piece convertible closure to the container when the one piece convertible closure is secured to the container, the inner circumferential side wall including a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second inner surface having a closure engaging device for engagement with the container engaging device; 
 a plurality of armatures integrally formed with the inner and outer sections and flexibly attached to the inner and outer sections, the armatures attaching the inner section to the outer section; 
 the inner section being coaxially positioned within the outer section and axially movable relative to the outer section between a child resistant configuration and a non-child resistant configuration to convert the one piece convertible closure from a child resistant mode to a non-child resistant mode; 
 
       and
 wherein the inner section top is positioned substantially planer with the top outer opening edge when the one piece convertible closure is in the child resistant mode, and the inner section bottom is positioned substantially planer with the bottom outer opening edge when the one piece convertible closure is in the non-child resistant mode. 
 
     
     
       25. A convertible closure and container pharmaceutical system, the system comprising:
 a container including a container axis and a neck, the neck having a container stop device, container engaging device, and a container opening edge defining a container opening; and 
 a one piece convertible closure having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a maintainable child resistant configuration and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a maintainable non-child resistant configuration, the one piece convertible closure including: 
 a closure axis about which the closure is rotatable; 
 an outer section having an outer circumferential side wall including a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a closure stop device, the outer circumferential side wall defining a top outer opening edge and a bottom outer opening edge, the closure stop device positioned on the inner surface and engaging the container stop device when the one piece convertible closure is in the child resistant mode to limit rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of removal of the one piece convertible closure from the container; 
 an inner section including an inner section top, an inner section bottom, 
 
       and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the inner section top, 
       the inner section top including a container side positioned to engage the container opening edge and limit the axial and rotational movement of the one piece convertible closure relative to the container in a direction of attachment of the one piece convertible closure to the container when the one piece convertible closure is secured to the container, the inner circumferential side wall including a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the 
       second inner surface having a closure engaging device for engagement with the container engaging device;
 a plurality of armatures integrally formed with the inner and outer sections and flexibly attached to the inner and outer sections, the armatures attaching the inner section to the outer section, the location of connection of the plurality of armatures to the outer section being higher than the location connection of the plurality of armatures to the inner section when the one piece convertible closure is in the non-child resistant mode and the location of connection of the plurality of armatures to the inner section being higher than the location connection of the plurality of armatures to the outer section when the one piece convertible closure is in the child resistant mode; and 
 the inner section being coaxially positioned within the outer section and axially movable relative to the outer section between the maintainable child resistant configuration and the maintainable non-child resistant configuration to convert the one piece convertible closure from the child resistant mode to the non-child resistant mode.